Steyn injured, Smith released, Smit and Botha cleared

Springboks fullback Frans Steyn has been ruled out of this weekend's clash against the All Blacks with a hamstring injury.

Steyn injured his leg playing against the Wallabies in the Springboks 14-9 loss, but will remain with the squad to rehabilitate.

Flanker Juan Smith, recently returned from an Achilles injury, will be released from the squad and will play for the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup in their match against the Pumas.

Springboks captain John Smit sat out training on Monday, but it was because of flu, as Springbok conditioning coach Neels Liebel confirmed that the elbow injury the veteran rake sustained is not serious.

Bakkies Botha, also suffering a case of flu, has been cleared of any injuries.

Both the hooker and lock are expected to be cleared fit.

The team for Saturday's Test will be named on Tuesday.

The Springboks will play the All Blacks at the new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, the first test at the ground, although the South Africans have played at two venues in the ‘Friendly City’ before, at Crusaders (now St George’s Park Cricket Ground) and EPRU Ground (also known as Boet Erasmus Stadium).